Agragamee & ROPCL distribute indigenous paddy seeds to farmers
Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, June 10: Organic farming, natural farming, permaculture, desi cultivation have now become buzz words in several quarters including Govt. Schematic interventions by agriculture & horticulture deptts are promoting indigenous farming, which was very much part of the Indian Agriculture System. The propounder of Green Revolution Sri M S Swaminathan has also recommended natural farming methodologies. Fortunately many tribals of Rayagada still practise indigenous methods of farming, which is a counter to the climate change and global warming. They are maintaining a food chain conducive to human and animal health.
In the context of the above principle, “Rayagada Organic Producer Company Ltd(ROPCL)” mentored by Agragamee distributed native seeds to the BPKP farmers at Sankoroda Gram Panchayat office in Kashipur block. Eminent Social Worker and Women’s Leaders namely Mr. Achyut Das, Director-Agragamee, Mr. Panchanan Behera, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Smt Sumani Jhodia and Smt Ghasen Jhodia were the guests on the occasion.
Pramod Kumar Panda, coordinator of Agragamee, delivered the welcome address and spoke about the basic objectives of the the project. He said that this year, the company organized the programme to distribute seeds to 400 selected farmers from 27 villages. Seven types of indigenous paddy seeds namely Kalamali, Kalajira, New Kalajira, Machha kanta, Kudai chudi, Gobinda bhogo, Latki machhi were distributed in Shankaroda and Dudukabahal gram panchayats.
Mr. Achyuta Das said that earlier more than 200 varieties of desi paddy were found in Kashipur area, but now a days indigenous paddy is no longer seen in this area. All the farmers are dependent on government seeds, spending more, unable to get seeds in time. Keeping this in mind, we are working with this organic company to augment the scope of introduction of this indigenous paddy seed, said Das. Other guests spoke vividly on the occasion.
Like this year, last year too, the company had provided 171 farmers with four varieties of indigenous paddy seeds. In today’s course of action, more than 100 farmers participated and they were distributed indigenous paddy as per their choice. While Pramod Kumar Panda conducted the entire programme, Abhiram Jhodia, Kailash Mandangi, Abhi Majhi, Api Majhi and others assisted.
